NAGPUR: Maharashtra, with 17 cities, tops the environment ministry’s list of 102 non- attainment cities where pollution levels are not meeting the set standards.The National Clean Air Programme, which was launched by the ministry on Thursday, states these cities have to mandatorily submit city specific action plans to combat air pollution. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data reveals that nitrogen dioxide levels were dangerously high in Pune, Badlapur and Ulhasnagar. In Vidarbha, Nagpur, Akola, Amravati and Chandrapur are the most polluting cities.
In August last year, despite having the highest number of polluted cities, the state had no mitigation plan. Details obtained by Greenpeace India under RTI revealed that action plans for all 17 cities were ‘missing’.
CPCB’s records show that though Mumbai, Pune, Amravati, Aurangabad, Jalna, Kolhapur and Laturhad submitted their plans, they were rejected and asked to re-submit. The 17 cities are Akola, Amravati, Aurangabad, Badlapur, Chandrapur, Jalgaon, Jalna, Kolhapur, Latur, Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune, Nashik, Navi Mumbai, Sangli, Solapur and Ulhasnagar.
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